Author's Note: Ok, the chapter I've personally been dreading! The chapter of backstory! Now, first off let me warn you I have NO BETA so if there mistakes in this I am really, really sorry and can only hope that they don't effect the story to much.../winces/ anyway, please be kind to me because this is the first time I've ever done anything like this...Either way, I hope you enjoy it and that there arn't too many mistakes! As to a review limit...since this is a long chapter I'm not going to put one on and I'll just update when I can ok? Cool, enjoy!

Chapter 14

-:Time Seal:-

Your opponent skips the Draw Phase of his/her next turn.

Yami frowned. It felt like he had been walking for hours. Once the chaise lounge had faded into darkness the Pharaoh had lost all sense of time. He wasn't even sure where Ieb was anymore. His opponent had been only a few meters in front of him, but when they had entered the darkness he had lost track of his guide. Normally Yami would have been uneasy in the situation he found himself in, walking in complete darkness for an indeterminable amount of time with no-one to guide him, but now he had nothing to loose. If Ieb had tricked him it didn't matter. Not anymore anyway. So engrossed was Yami in his thoughts of Yugi that he didn't notice the light at the end of the long corridor. The bloody hieroglyphs were once again revealing themselves in the light and the sandstone floor glistened a little. In fact he only noticed anything had changed at all when the sandstone floor came to an abrupt end causing him to gasp. Suddenly the ground he was walking on had changed, it wasn't cool stone anymore as it had been in the corridor before, now it was hot and soft. Then it hit him. He was walking on sand. Blinded by the light Yami used his other senses to work out where he was. The first thing that was apparent after the sensation of the sand was the heat. Considering how cold the corridor had been the heat was almost unbearable and to make it worse there was no breeze to ease his suffering. The next thing Yami noticed was that there was no noise, complete silence. No-where was this silent.

"That is where you are." A voice said from next to him, as if it had read his thoughts. Yami jumped, so that was where Ieb had gone.

"What do you mean?" Yami asked, rubbing at his eyes with the hand not holding the glass Ieb had given him, trying to see through the blinding sunlight.

"I mean that you guessed right. Welcome to no-where Pharaoh!" Ieb laughed and Yami could hear him sipping at his glass of wine.

"I don't understand." Yami grouched, blinking rapidly. "How could we be nowhere?" Ieb laughed again, but it was a mocking sound, not one of mirth.

"If you don't believe me then you try finding Ancient Egypt in your atlas. You may be Pharaoh, but you aren't that good."

It was a sudden transformation but he couldn't stop it. Something in his blood automatically made him stand up straight, puffing out his chest proudly. Suddenly the light was not so bright, the heat was almost pleasant and the taste of sand in the air was a comfort to him. He looked prouder and stronger. He looked like what he was, the result of generations of blue blooded breeding. Yami was gone, the Pharaoh of Ancient Egypt standing in his place.

"Ah, so you really haven't changed." Ieb smiled as he mocked the Pharaoh. "But enough of your reliving the glory days. Follow me." The spirit in the shape of Yugi began making his way down the sand dune that they were stood on and Yami was quick to follow. He didn't remember anything of his days as Pharaoh, and everything around him was new. Even if none of this was real he was hungry to learn more about it. After a few minutes, in which they had been surrounded by desert, Ieb stopped at the top of a sand dune, Yami climbing up behind him. "This is all for you your grace." Ieb grinned coldly, "Welcome to Luxor." Slowly Yami reached the top of the dune and looked out over his capital city, it all looked in order, except that the silence was still complete.

"Why is there no sound?" Yami asked before he could stop himself.

"Why?" Ieb asked with a cold smirk, "Because there are no people. Besides you and I at any rate." With a shrug Ieb sat down in the sand, the wine in his glass sloshing about dangerously. "Now then, since the scene is set let me explain everything to you." Slowly Yami sat down, though now he was suspicious. What was going on? Why would Ieb go to all this trouble? "Don't look so worried Pharaoh, I just wanted you to feel my past as well as hear it."

"Look, stop playing with me." Yami growled, "You said that I had a chance to win back Yugi's soul. Now tell me how!" Ieb's crazed actions were beginning to make him uneasy, and every moment wasted was a moment in which Yugi would be suffering hell.

"Patience Pharaoh." Ieb smiled, "Let me tell you a story."

Flashback

That summer had been hot, one of the hottest on record, or so the advisers had said. The land had been baked well and truly, but famine was never a problem in the land of Egypt. Thanks to Hapy the Nile had flooded well that year to counteract Ra's overzealous workings and the stores through out the length and breadth of the country were filled with the finest grain and figs. They had much to be thankful for and the priests had made sure that they were very much aware of what they owed to Amun and his gods for their blessings on the land. But not everyone was as thankful as they should have been, and although the priests nagged him constantly about paying tribute, this boy refused to do so. He was not religious, much to the horror of his parents, in fact his only real belief lay in the usage of magic, which was not surprising because as far as magic was concerned he was a child prodigy.

"Ra be damned." The boy grumbled as he walked out into the sun and over to one of many fountains that could be found in the numerous courtyards. He was only ten but his perceptions of the world around him were remarkable in their maturity and accuracy, making him not only well respected but well liked. He was a straight talker and that was seen to be one of his best qualities. In fact he was so well respected that at the age of eight he had been summoned to Luxor, to the palace. This had been partially due to the fact that he was a magical genius, and partially because as it turned out he was a member of the royal family. When the boy's parents had died the Pharaoh had had little choice but to offer sanctuary to his nephew and eventually he had become the prince's playmate.

"What's wrong?" Another voice asked from the other side of the courtyard. The smaller of the two jumped at the unexpected question.

"Prince!" He gasped, "I didn't hear you come out." The taller of the two laughed at his friend's surprise and it was a gentle, melodious sound, like water over pebbles in a stream.

"Don't worry, I could tell you were thinking about something." The prince smiled kindly and sat on the edge of the fountain next to his friend. "What are you thinking of cousin?" The Prince's cousin bit his lip and then spoke in his usual straight forward manner.

"The Pharaoh wishes that I become a priest." He sighed, "He said that as part of the royal family my utilising magic would be too dangerous. I disagree. Unless I can find something else that I am suited to then I shall be forced into being a priest. I don't think I could stand that. You know how I feel about the Gods." The prince stayed quiet about that, blasphemy was a crime in Egypt, but what his father didn't know wouldn't hurt him. For a long moment silence stretched out between the two boys and neither spoke. The future Pharaoh has listened closely to his friend's problem. It was a tough one. On one hand his father was right, becoming a mage was a dangerous road, especially for someone with as much power to tame as his cousin had. But on the other hand not letting him use it would be an awful waste and disrespect to one of his country's greatest modern minds. Eventually the prince broke the silence.

"We've been friends for a long time." He said at last. "I can trust you right?" The smaller boy nodded eagerly.

"Of course!"

"Then I might have a job for you…when I am Pharaoh." There was another pause in which the prince brushed a golden section of hair from his eyes and his cousin's eyes grew wet with emotion. "Perhaps I would have you carry one of my millennium items?" The prince winked at his friend and cousin. "After all, you will be a splendid magician one day, and blood is thicker than water." The prince's cousin grinned.

"Really? You would…you trust me that much?" The future Pharaoh nodded and tears of joy began to fall from his relative's eyes. "Oh! Thank you!" He sobbed happily. "You have no idea how much this means to me! I'll never let you down!"

Flashback

Yami slowly raised an eyebrow. If what Ieb was saying was the truth then not only had he been friends with the man sat next to him, but they had been cousins too.

"So you are saying that when I was ten years old I promised you a millennium item?" The Pharaoh asked, frowning.

"Yes." Ieb replied bluntly, sounding more like his old self. "But that wasn't the only time you promised me."

"So, I broke a promise and you've waited 5,000 years to avenge it?" Yami asked, astounded, "I was young and irresponsible. Anyway, waiting that long seems a bit…"

"Overboard? Extreme? Mad?" Ieb laughed, sounding exactly like his own list of words, then suddenly he stopped and his eyes blazed with a look of complete and utter hatred. "Just wait, I'm not finished."

Flashback

"I sacrifice Mudora and Keldo! Then I'll play Novox's Prayer in order to summon the almighty Skull Guardian!" As soon as the words had left the youth's lips an imposing figure in brown armour exploded onto the field, knives along his arms glistening dangerously. "Now Skull Guardian!" The young man shouted, pointing at another slightly older boy on the other side of the room. "Attack the Prince's life points and bring me victory!" Immediately the duel monster flew across the field to attack on his master's command. However he was only met with laughter,

"Nice try Kamenwati!" The future Pharaoh grinned, stretching his hand out in front of him to reveal a face down card. "But I activate mirror force!" Within seconds Skull Guardian was gone and Kamen's life points had spun down to zero. The boy didn't seem pleased.

"You always win." He grumped, dropping to sit down in a fake sulk.

"I should hope so!" The spiky haired Prince laughed. "Anyway, you are getting good now! You give me more of a run for my money than anyone else! You don't just let me walk all over you." At that the boy's eyes lit up for a moment before the emotion faded.

"Well, that's what you'd expect from a future bearer!" The Prince nodded and walked over to help his friend up.

"It is what I would expect from a relative, and a close friend." He smiled. His cousin seemed about to speak when someone rushed into the room panting.

"Your highness!" He gasped, dropping to his knees in a sign of respect. "You…your father, the honourable Pharaoh…is dead my lord." The Prince's eyes widened at this. His father had been away for the last month fighting a war against the Nubians but no one could possibly have expected this. "As of now you are the Pharaoh over all Egypt." Immediately there was a soft thump sound behind the new Pharaoh. The ex-Prince turned and saw, with sadness in his heart, that his cousin was now also bowing to him. "You are needed in the council chambers to elect your new council Pharaoh." Slowly the somewhat overwhelmed teenager nodded.

"Yes." He agreed, his first word as Pharaoh. "Let us go and deal with the matter at hand." Then, without looking behind him the Prince left to take care of business. Immediately on stepping out of the door he was overwhelmed with well wishers and those who wished to offer him tribute. No one noticed the smaller boy in the crowd jumping to see his friend being rushed away.

"Cousin!" He yelled, "Wait for me!"

The council chamber was much bigger than the Pharaoh 's cousin had imagined, and much grander. The ceiling to the chamber was high and graceful, with towering pillars and flowing curtains of stately purples and reds. In the centre of the room was a line of chairs, and then in front of them another, grander chair, the throne for the Pharaoh. The boy's eyes widened, emerald orbs sparkling in awe.

"Wow…" He gasped, looking around him. The room was currently empty, but he knew it wouldn't be for long. Slowly the king's cousin walked further into the enormous room, past the lesser chairs, to the throne. It was beautiful, carved intricately with praises and tributes to the Pharaoh. "Amahté tameri, hêtshepsu, khenti faro." The boy read to himself, smiling at the words. "Anok fero, ebé, khait, merit, metit. Uro…" Suddenly he was cut off when he heard voices echoing in the corridor at the other end of the council chamber. The Pharaoh. Quickly the teenager scrambled up from where he had been kneeling next to the throne and, using one of the thick purple drapes that were hung around the room, scrambled up a pillar to sit, huddled at the lotus shaped top.

"I have decided." A voice came, it was obvious to whom it belonged. The Pharaoh. Except now his voice was more confident, he was obviously settling into his role as leader. The boy at the top of the pillar watched closely as the Pharaoh entered the council chamber followed by Isis, Seth, Kalim, Shada, Akhenaden and Mahaad. So this was the old council. He had seen them around before, but he had never known that they bore the millenium items. 'No matter' the Pharaoh's cousin thought to himself with a smile. 'One of them won't be for much longer!'

The bearers filed in and the boy watched in fascination. Slowly they took their seats and the Pharaoh made his way to the throne, sitting down and admiring the millenium puzzle around his neck. Once it had been his father's and now it was his. There would be time to mourn later.

"I said I had decided and I have." The Pharaoh said finally. "You are the old council, and I am now well aquainted with each and every one of you. Originally I had plans to change those who bore these items, but now I see that each of you are connected to that which you care for, and that no other people in the kingdom to do your job as well as you do." The Pharaoh paused then. He could have sworn he heard a noise. Something like a choked sob, was someone crying? Slowly he looked around the chamber but saw nothing, instead he continued. "So I will keep you all on as my council. May your servitude to the people of Egypt be as prosperous as it was in the reign of my father." The council bowed and chorused back,

"Your will be done Pharaoh."

An hour later, after planning new strategies to protect Egypt's boundaries the council chamber slowly emptied out, leaving it once again completely silent. When everyone had left the noise began again. That choking, sobbing noise. A moment later the sound of moving fabric could be heard and then a soft thud. The king's cousin had heard it all and as he slid down the curtain to the floor once again tears burned at his eyes. He had been betrayed by the only person he had ever really trusted. His best friend. In a flurry of tears the teenage royal fled from the chamber trying to forget what he had heard. The harm had been done. He would never look at the Pharaoh in the same way again.

Flashback

"I still don't understand!" The Pharaoh exclaimed, "So I broke a promise, I'm sorry if I did, but waiting 5,000 years!" Finally Ieb lost his cool.

"I told you I haven't finished!" He bellowed and Yami flinched a little, he hadn't been expecting that. "There's more. That is only the beginning. There is still how you ruined my life, made me want to die and how you made me hate you so much that I sacrificed my body so that my soul could come back and make you pay for what you did!" Yami remained silent. Did he really have it in him to do all of that to a person who he was led to believe was not only his relative but his friend? Yugi had helped him change a lot since they had first met, and he couldn't shake the feeling that perhaps he had been capable of that before Yugi had helped him become more compassionate. "Now, if you'll be quiet I'll finish and then perhaps you would like to try and win back Yugi's soul. The more you interrupt the longer Yugi will suffer for." Immediately the Pharaoh was quiet. He knew that much of what Ieb was saying was true.

Flashback

The linen curtains fluttered softly in the breeze that came in from the balcony. It was a pleasantly cool morning and the sky over Cairo was a comforting cerulean. The sound of the city's early morning activities could be heard floating softly through from the balcony and it seemed all the world was completely at peace. Except for the banging and shouting that was making its way toward the cousin of the king's bedroom.

"Please no!" One of the servant cried from outside the door, "The Pharaoh would never do that to his Kamenwati!"

"I'm under orders!" Another, deeper voice replied, "And you would not stand in the way of the Pharaoh's wishes would you?" There was silence and the struggle in the corridor stopped. A moment later the door of the bedroom opened to reveal a large muscled man that was one of the High Priest's guards. For a moment he stood in silence and he was rewarded when the person he had been sent for spoke.

"You're late." The Pharaoh's cousin said dryly from the balcony where he was stood with his back to the door. "My cousin sent for me twelve minutes ago." The guard was stunned but stopped himself before asking how the young royal knew that. The Pharaoh's Kamenwati, as he affectionately called him, had many spies in the palace. Enough to know everything before it happened and have time left over to do something about it. The king's council saw the young man's popularity as a threat, but the Pharaoh had always been proud of his cousin's resourcefulness. Until now.

"I've been sent to summon you my liege." The guard bowed as he spoke. "The high priest Seth wishes to speak to you." The seventeen year old sighed, his shoulders sagging sadly, but when he turned around his eyes were hard and cold.

"Yes. I know. You may take me to him as soon as I have gathered my belongings." For a moment the guard looked confused.

"But my lord the high priest only wishes an audience with you." At that the Pharaoh's cousin lost his cool.

"Let us sidestep around the fact that you have just questioned the motives of a royal and focus on the real issue at hand here shall we?" He raged, "You know as well as I do that I have fallen from the Pharaoh's favour. Now that he has all of the power he could ever need his friends become redundant. I am coming of age very soon and the Pharaoh's council has convinced him that I am not only a threat to him but a waste of space as well." He paused and smiled slightly as he watched the guard cower in front of him. He was not in a good mood. "We both know that I will never return to this room again, and if the council has its wish I shall probably never return to the palace again either. So if you would allow me to collect my belongings it would be appreciated." With that the out-of-favour royal began collecting up his most precious possessions and bundling them into a linen bag. Once he was done he walked past the guard to the door, where he was immediately surrounded by more guards and was gripped roughly by two, one on each side of him. Once again the Pharaoh's cousin felt his anger rise, shaking his arms free of his 'escort's' grip. "I may be a disgrace," He snarled angrily. "But I am a royal disgrace and I will be treated as such."

The teenage royal was right about his situation. He was in disgrace, suddenly having fallen out of favour with the king (or at least with his persuasive advisors) he was to be hidden away from society where he would not be a threat to the throne. After all, if he had not been taken care of he could have meant a revolution. A teenager the Pharaoh's age who was of royal blood and was almost as talented in magics as the king himself would have been the perfect person for revolutionaries to place on the throne after the Pharaoh had been…disposed of. It had taken a lot for the Pharaoh to concede to the idea of having his cousin and friend spirited away but eventually he had come round to believing it was best. He wouldn't be hurt that way, if he stayed he could be in danger from enemies of the state. However the king still couldn't be convinced that his friend was a threat. That was until he realised the nickname that he had given to his cousin all those years ago. Kamenwati. Dark rebel. Rebellion was treason and treason was death. Perhaps it would be better to put his Kamenwati out of the picture after all. At least for now, maybe forever.

Flashback

Finally it was starting to come together, the pieces falling into place. Slowly the clouds were clearing and Yami was beginning to see why Ieb had waited so long to punish his cousin.

"I was trained as a priest." The spirit in the shape of Yugi's body whispered quietly. "Eventually I was put under a ban so that I couldn't use magic. My first love." Ieb swallowed and then continued, "I was forgotten by the world. My friends in the palace couldn't even recognise me the day that I went to perform my first ceremony to Hapy for the Nile flood." For a moment Yami's heart wrenched. Had he truly caused this man so much pain? If he had he deserved punishment. He had ruined this man's life.

"I'm sorry." Yami whispered quietly. "For all that I did to you." Silence stretched between them for a moment before Ieb spoke again. This time his voice seemed far away and slightly crazed, unlike the sorrowful tone he had sported before.

"I used my magic once after that. I used all of my power to separate my spirit from my body and send myself to the shadow realm. Everyone was told I died of an infection, no one actually cared that I had effectively committed suicide. Sacrificed my body for the vitality of my soul." He laughed a little at that and Yami immediately was set on edge again. "I lived in the shadow realm for 5,000 years. But it wasn't that bad, all of my worst fears had come true in reality, so the shadow realm had very little ammo to shoot at me." Again there was that laugh, a giggle of absolute madness. "5,000 years is a long time to spend alone. I forgot almost everything; my name, what I looked, what I stood for, who my family had been. Why do you think I have no real name? Why do you think even here where you can change to your ancient form I must remain in the shape of my host? I forgot everything except for what you did to me that I made it my mission to remember, so that I would never let slip what you had done to me. That corridor," Ieb gestured back to where they had come from. "That is what my soul room looks like Pharaoh. That is my blood on the walls. I decided it was the best thing to write in. After all, when you a spirit it is impossible to die from blood loss now isn't it!" The laugh was louder and even creepier than before, but this time it was followed up by actions as well. Suddenly Ieb was standing, his green eyes burning brightly was blood lust and hatred. "I wanted to kill you in the worst way possible!" He screamed, Yami stood and backed away a little, looking at the raging spirit in Yugi's shape. "I watched you, and I saw how much Yugi meant to you, I wanted to get to you in a way that would kill you from the inside out, to kill the person you cared most about! But now I see that you haven't changed!" Ieb held his hand into the air and a four knives appeared in it, glistening in the Egyptian sunlight. "The person you care most about is yourself! I'll kill you!" Ieb laughed and threw two of the four knifes into the sand by Yami's feet. "I will take us back to reality!" He laughed manically, "And you will fight me there! The first person to draw blood will win! If I win, your soul will die in payment for your wrongs!" Again the laughter rang out, "And your blood will flow like the Nile, that I should catch it in cups and call it sacred, the blood of a supposedly infallible god." The glass of wine in Ieb's hand shattered under his tightening grip, forcing fragments of glass into his hand. His eyes glowed bright with insanity and for a moment Yami was completely caught out by the exposure of Ieb's raw madness. However, Yami was quickly gaining his footing again.

"If I win you will return Yugi to me unharmed, then you will leave us for good, your soul cast into the shadows!" Ieb suddenly stopped laughing and then slowly a smile curved Ieb's lips as he nodded in agreement.

"So be it." He replied closing his eyes and mumbling something under his breath in a tongue that was definitely not anything that people spoke anymore, the picturesque view of Ancient Luxor disappeared, fluttering out of existence and fazing into trees. The clearing was dark now and the sounds of the modern city could clearly be heard; a dog barking, cars driving by, the buzz of street lamps. Only six things remained from the illusion of the past. The Pharaoh, his betrayed cousin and four glistening steel knives, two in the hands of a creepily smiling Ieb, and two in the ground in front of the ex-Pharaoh. "Come Pharaoh." Ieb smiled, shifting his weight onto his back foot in a defensive stance, the two knives sparkling threateningly in the twilight. "Lets play a game."

Reviwer's Section:

dragonlady222: Do you believe me now? Yami and Ieb used to friends! I didn't want to make Yami too stereotyped and at the same time I also wanted to show the contrast between Yami's new, lighter personality, and his older personality as Pharaoh when he was forced to be darker and consider his position. Yes ultimately Yugi is the victim, but only due to Yami's victimisation of someone else...ironic huh/winks/

Yami Yuugi: Thanks for the episodes again/grins/ Now...as to the fic...Here is what I have in store for Yami and Ieb! Another twist of the proverbial dagger before we all go home happy lol. Hope you liked this chapter, it was the one I've been most worried about ever since I wrote it /dies/ lol anyways, catch you next chapter!

cheeky-eyes: Sorry about the no lack of Yugi in this chapter, he's coming up in the next one I think! Now, about Ieb, since now you know what Yami did to him can you find it in you to 'kick his a$$' /winks/ Feel even a little sorry for him? After all it was Yami who pushed him to insanity...yay for moral dilemas! I hope you liked this chapter and see you next one!

Yami Val: Yay! Thanks for your compliments, makes me feel good about writting (is writting the beginning of her next fic right now!) I hope you liked this chapter and I'm sure everything between Yami and Yugi will be fine eventually.../winks/

Coco Gash Niccals: So ah...where do we think the glass might be anyways? I mean I hate to say it but we've been wandering around in circles for quite some time and Yugi is getting heavy /Yugi scowls but says nothing as he doesn't actually walk unless he has to/ And Ieb, don't worry sweetie, I know it's demeaning but I promise you no-one thinks less of you because of it... /glares at Yami who is snickering in the corner/ shut up Pharaoh. (Hope you liked this chapter! Can you still find it in you to hate Ieb?)

Masami Mistress of Fire: Lol, as long as you are trying to update I don't mind! Anywho, unfortunately I am sort of leaving Yugi hanging as it were...you'll just have to wait to see what's going on with him! Hope you liked the chapter!

gowb: /Grabs Yugi and makes him pull puppy eyes on gowb/ Please! Please let me read your fics! Yugi is begging /points at puppy-eyed Yugi/ Hem hem...anyways, I unfortunately didn't update that quickly so I'm sorry for that, but you got a bumper chapter instead! Hope you enjoyed it! Only two more to go! (And a potential epilogue...I think I might stick one in there...)

Yimi Makuya: Glad you liked it and hope you liked this one too!

Cactus Bob: Now only 2 chapters! (With a potential epilogue...) And then you can move onto my next chapter and feed me there lol! Fried chicken...mmm...! As to 'American McGee Alice' I think not lol...I checked it out on wiki...its kinda wierd XD!